Black Grout gone white

[dgatile]

Just tiled kitchen floor in black porcelain tiles with Bal black superflex grout, looked great wet but dries white.
any ideas anyone.

 

[Ian]

Can you post a picture or 2 for us to look at?


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[Stewart]

More than likely over wetting of the grout while washing down causing leeching, or incorrect mixing. These are the 2 main reasons for patchy coloured grouts........


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[Minesacarling]

I was on a job once where they called the Mapei rep because the grout dried in different shades and they basically said it was due to the washboy sponge leaving to much water on the tiles when final washing.

 

[dgatile]

Thought it might be that, was using a rubi washboy had to go over with a sponge aswell any ideas how to solve.

 

[Minesacarling]

I'd try giving it another wash or just scrape the top off the grout then scim over it again with grout and just wash it again carefully

 

[charlie1]

Aye, could be a regrout! How many m2 are we talking?

 

[Stewart]

Use a grout colourant such as "Universal" you can get it from TradeTiler and works really well....


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[Ian]

As Stewart has suggested, use a colourant, here's a link Tradetiler Universeal Grout Colour

 

[dgatile]

Its 26m don't fancy a regrout.

 

[dgatile]

Sounds just what i need going to order sum, thanks for that

 

[dgatile]

Thanks for link, had a look and will give it a try.

 

[Minesacarling]

Just done some research and apparently it's the polymers in the grout coming to the surface and that's due to over washing. If it were a mapei grout they do pens that put some liquid on the grout that draws the polymers to the surface and gives a even colour to the finish. So I imagine bal and the other brands might do something similar

 

[AliGage]

BAL does microshield and microrevive. It doesn't detail that it's specifically for this issue, more of a cleaner. But will probably do the job.

Was it a new sponge in your washboy? I do fond that new sponge floats retain a lot of water. Run your finger and/or a dry sponge over the grout (gently) after washing and you shouldn't have this problem again. Black grout is the worst for this i've found as well.

 

[dgatile]

yes it was a new sponge on the washboy. it did leave it very wet had to go over with a bucket and sponge, will check bal's website thanks for that

 

[DHTiling]

Use a residue remover that also removes polymer residue... scrub the joints with a scotch pad and solution,this might bring them back... worth a try before re-colouring.

 

[dgatile]

Thanks Dave will try that first, grout has been done about 10 days is that long enough forme to try it.

 

[swanman]

Black grout

Horrible

 

[swanman]

liked that thread

 

[DHTiling]

Thanks Dave will try that first, grout has been done about 10 days is that long enough forme to try it.

Worth a shot..

Let us know how you get on..

 

[John Benton]

Worth a shot..

Let us know how you get on..

Looks like Mapei isn't the only one that has problems with finishing then Dave :smilewinkgrin: It has got to be the mix and wet sponging off. I think that once you get used to a grout manufacturer and it works for you, you stick with it generally.

 

[Alan M]

BAL does microshield and microrevive. It doesn't detail that it's specifically for this issue, more of a cleaner. But will probably do the job.

Was it a new sponge in your washboy? I do fond that new sponge floats retain a lot of water. Run your finger and/or a dry sponge over the grout (gently) after washing and you shouldn't have this problem again. Black grout is the worst for this i've found as well.

any ideas on speeding up the wear so that it doesnt hold too much water.
maybe cut it in half

 

[Minesacarling]

I think that once you get used to a grout manufacturer and it works for you, you stick with it generally.[/QUOTE]
Not always that easy especially for commercial as most jobs have the sticky and grout already in the specification. So you use what your told

 

[John Benton]

I think that once you get used to a grout manufacturer and it works for you, you stick with it generally.

Not always that easy especially for commercial as most jobs have the sticky and grout already in the specification. So you use what your told[/QUOTE]

Only if you do commercial. I don't particularly want to.

 

[AliGage]

any ideas on speeding up the wear so that it doesnt hold too much water.
maybe cut it in half

Use it to clean your mixing bucket out a few times.

I use and would recommend if you don't using the large BAL mixing buckets like in one of the pics on my job of the month entry for this month. I use these because the shape and size means the sponge slides round nice when cleaning the bucket and doesn't get damaged or torn.
Wash your sponge out straight away with the garden hose to ensure no adhesive or foreign materials are in your sponge. Once i've used it a good few times and it's thoroughly clean i'll use it for mopping down after grouting.